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Curly Sue

Play trailer Poster for Curly Sue PG 1991 1h 42m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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13% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Bill (James Belushi) is a penniless drifter who scams strangers out of just enough money to feed himself and his partner in crime, an orphan girl known as Curly Sue (Alisan Porter). Bill and Curly Sue target Grey (Kelly Lynch), a yuppie lawyer, but their con takes an unexpected turn when the successful woman begins to like the ramshackle duo. She decides to take the girl in and falls in love with Bill, but there's one problem -- Grey's jealous, conniving boyfriend, Walker (John Getz).
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Curly Sue

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
3/4
Curly Sue is a cornball, soupy, syrupy, sentimental exercise in audience manipulation, but that's the good news, because this is a movie that works. Go to Full Review
Harriet Waugh The Spectator Jul 19, 2018
Everyone who has to do with it -- particularly John Hughes, the writer, director and producer of it -- should be ashamed. Go to Full Review
Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Nov 18, 2011
5/10
The film has a desperately cutesy-pie charm that drips with flop sweat. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Aug 10, 2011
C
A disappointingly sentimental and shallow film from John Hughes about the homeless Go to Full Review
Randy White Common Sense Media Jan 2, 2011
3/5
A violent, offensive comedy. Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Apr 21, 2007
F
Reprehensible from start to finish, and utterly manipulative and mindless to boot. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jesse T @Jess800 3 hrs ago An imperfect but beautiful Hughes film, criminally underrated and misunderstood until this day. Anyone that thinks it's not in his style is clueless regarding John Hughes, whose films were the modern reincarnation of Capra's works. Is it manipulate and syrupy? Absolutely, and at times over-the-top and bordering on zany (how many times could Belushi get hit, Stooges style?). But for all it's flaws, it's full of heart and soul, with some of the sweetest moments put to celluloid. Porter is the absolute star of the film, she's a gem and carries the film, but Lynch and Belushi both carry their weight with great performances, even if their chemistry is rushed and feels forced at times. Hughes had the eye and ear for how to move the heart, and he delivers the goods here, even if he was misunderstood, may he rest in peace. See more Joel H @786Joel Aug 22, 2026 Curly Sue was the final film directed by John Hughes. It was also written and produced by Hughes. So why does it seem to be missing the magic of his other films? They completely nailed the casting of the titular character. Alisan Porter is charming and spunky without being wooden or annoying. Meanwhile, Jim Belushi feels miscast and Kelly Lynch tends to overact in her scenes. And while I know Hughes is a talented director, many parts went on too long and it slowed down the movie as a whole. Curly Sue may not have the staying power of The Breakfast Club or Ferris Bueller, but it does have some charm. See more Ed R @JustcallmeER Dec 10, 2025 As cute as this movie is, it misses on the comedy. See more Kevin B @RT86185028 Oct 23, 2025 Could very well be the worst film that I have seen in my life. Can't say for sure, but certainly up there. Can't believe that Roger Ebert gave it a high rating! I found it to be pure drivel. I am aware that we are expected to suspend disbelief when watching a movie, but this is too far. In real life, this would never happen. See more Jason R @J-Rush1411 Oct 6, 2025 Don't understand how this is so low rated by others, it's a good story, one of John Hughes most underrated films i guess going by the rating, give it a watch See more Hadley H @RT09981606 Aug 24, 2025 changed my life forever. if you haven’t seen this, or you dont like it, you are missing out. See more Read all reviews
Curly Sue

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Movie Info

Synopsis Bill (James Belushi) is a penniless drifter who scams strangers out of just enough money to feed himself and his partner in crime, an orphan girl known as Curly Sue (Alisan Porter). Bill and Curly Sue target Grey (Kelly Lynch), a yuppie lawyer, but their con takes an unexpected turn when the successful woman begins to like the ramshackle duo. She decides to take the girl in and falls in love with Bill, but there's one problem -- Grey's jealous, conniving boyfriend, Walker (John Getz).
Director
John Hughes
Producer
John Hughes
Screenwriter
John Hughes
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 25, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.7M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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